An Oregon high school that was involved in a racism scandal back in April now says another high school targeted its baseball players with threats and slurs. Central Catholic High School baseball players and coaches claim they were the target of racist and homophobic comments during a playoff game against Grant High School.
In April, Central Catholic High School baseball players faced criticism due to an alleged racist incident that resulted in the team forfeiting two games and canceling class for two days. In an effort to resolve the issue with the Archdiocese Board, Central Catholic students staged a walkout following the incident.
The school stated that a baseball player repeatedly used “racial hate speech” during a pregame rally. Even though the comments did not occur in front of an adult, a parent reported them to head coach Justin Barchus on April 11. After Barchus notified the administration, the administration launched an inquiry right away.
The baseball team at Central Catholic eventually resumed playing games despite a teacher starting a petition to forfeit the rest of the season. The whole team apologized in person to the entire school.
What is the latest racism scandal involving Portland’s Central Catholic?
KOIN News reports that the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) received a complaint alleging that Grant players and spectators had threatened to “r—” players’ girlfriends and sisters. They also claim that while in the bullpen area, a spectator called one Central Catholic player the N-word.
According to Central Catholic administrators, fans made fun of coaches with references to the Ku Klux Klan, and homophobic slurs were targeted at players. Additionally, Central Catholic asserted that the Grant crowd continuously cursed at their players, citing one incident in which they heard the crowd chanting “F— C-C” following the game.
The complaint also mentions that fans made “repeated hostile, profane, threatening, and discriminatory remarks” against Central Catholic athletes, coaches, families, and supporters. Also, a spectator allegedly threw an object into the dugout that struck a Central Catholic player.
“Several concerns were reportedly brought to event personnel and game officials during the contest,” the complaint states, according to OregonLive. “Families and coaches were informed, in part, that the environment was too loud or chaotic to effectively manage comments coming from the stands. In one instance, an umpire reportedly stated, ‘I am not responsible for what happens outside of the fence.’”
“Regardless of prior controversy or public perception, no student-athlete or family should be subjected to harassment, threats, discriminatory language, or intimidation at a school-sponsored athletic event. This communication is not intended to diminish Grant High School’s athletic performance,” the complaint added. “Grant earned the win on the field. Rather, this letter is intended to address conduct and safety concerns that extended far beyond normal competitive behavior. Our schools consistently teach students about integrity, accountability, empathy, and sportsmanship. Adults and institutions must model those same expectations. What we tolerate becomes what we normalize.”
Portland Public Schools issued a statement about the allegations
When asked to comment on the complaint, the Portland Public Schools issued a statement which read, “Portland Public Schools and Grant High School are aware of the concerns that were raised regarding the May 27 OSAA playoff baseball game between Grant High School and Central Catholic. School administrators reviewed the matter, documented their findings, and provided a response to the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA).
“We take concerns regarding student safety, sportsmanship, and spectator conduct seriously and expect all participants and attendees at school-sponsored events to demonstrate respect for one another. Because this matter is currently being reviewed through the OSAA process, we will not be providing additional comments at this time.“